Method for manufacturing laminated prepreg members

A method for manufacturing a laminated prepreg member, comprising:

• feeding a prepreg tape comprised of a prepreg layer releasably bonded on a flexible backing paper to a cutting device, said prepreg tape having side edges on opposite sides thereof;
• cutting a plurality of slits or grooves in said prepreg tape which extend completely through said prepreg layer while maintaining said backing paper intact and which extend completely across said prepreg layer from side to side thereof;
• controlling said cutting device with a prepreg cutting control device such that said slits form a plurality of unnecessary prepreg portions positioned between prepreg segments,
• feeding said prepreg tape with a plurality of said prepreg segments and said unnecessary prepreg portions mounted on said flexible backing paper to an unnecessary prepreg portion removing device;
• adjusting said removing device at predetermined intervals so as to remove a series of said unnecessary prepreg portions from said backing paper while retaining said prepreg segments in contact with said backing paper when said prepreg tape is fed to said removing device such that a cut prepreg tape with said unnecessary prepreg portions removed is obtained, and said adjusting of said removing device including swinging an arm supported by a supporting member of said removing device such that a free end of said arm engages an unnecessary prepreg portion and moving the supporting member in a direction essentially transverse to a direction of tape movement so as to separate the engaged unnecessary prepreg portion from said backing paper;
• loading said cut prepreg tape with said unnecessary prepreg portions removed and said retained prepreg segments on to a lamination attachment;
• moving said lamination attachment in a predetermined direction while urging said cut prepreg tape from which said unnecessary prepreg portions have been removed against a surface of an operating table at a first position;
• peeling off said cut prepreg segments from said backing paper;
• bonding said peeled off cut prepreg segments to said operating table surface;
• successively orienting said lamination attachment with loaded cut prepreg tape in different predetermined directions such that said prepreg segments combine to form a first prepreg sheet layer of a predetermined configuration, and said slits being formed in said prepreg tape such that upon removal of said unnecessary prepreg portions, ends of said prepreg segments are shaped and spaced apart in a manner which results in a predetermined periphery for said prepreg sheet being formed after bonding of said peeled off cut prepreg segments;
• urging additional cut prepreg tape free of unnecessary prepreg portions into contact with said first prepreg sheet layer so as to form a multilayer laminated prepreg sheet;
• trimming said laminated prepreg sheet on said operation table surface while said operating table is still at said first position so as to form a laminated prepreg member;
• and
• separating said prepreg laminated member from a remaining portion of said laminated prepreg sheet.